At its new home at the Raptor Bay Golf Club, the Rick Smith Golf Academy continues to offer golfers the same level of quality instruction provided to players on the PGA Tour.

Bonita Springs, FL (PRWEB) January 09, 2013

Southwest Florida’s leading luxury golf resort, Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa, is pleased to welcome the renowned Rick Smith Golf Academy to Raptor Bay Golf Club. Conveniently located between the resort and the Hyatt Residence Club at Coconut Plantation in Bonita Springs, the Raptor Bay Golf Club has been named one of the world’s top 10 courses by Sports Illustrated’s Gary Van Sickle. The AAA Four Diamond resort, which recently completed a multi-million-dollar renovation, is also no stranger to the limelight. Ranked as one of the top 20 golf resorts in the state by Conde Nast Traveler, the resort draws golfers and their families from all over the world. It should come as no surprise then that Smith found the resort destination to be the perfect fit for the academy’s new site.

“I felt as though it was extremely important to keep my academy in the greater Southwest Florida area,” said Rick Smith. “The combination of fantastic, loyal students from the local community, corporate support and tourists from all over the world has allowed us to build a successful operation in Naples over the past 12 years. We are excited to serve as an added amenity at Raptor Bay Golf Club and Hyatt Regency Coconut Point. With 454 fantastic rooms, 70,000 square feet of meeting space and close proximity to the Fort Myers airport, it’s a perfect fit for our corporate partners and students from all over the globe.”

Smith is known for assisting some of the most accomplished golfers in the world including Jack Nicklaus, Phil Mickelson, Lee Janzen, Rocco Mediate and Greg Norman. In addition, Smith holds awards and accolades for his skills as a golf course designer, serves as an instructional editor for Golf Digest, authored How to Find Your Perfect Golf Swing and recently was inducted into the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame and Michigan PGA Hall of Fame.

“We are pleased to welcome Rick Smith and his talented team,” said Joe Murgalo, general manager of Hyatt Regency Coconut Point. “In addition to delivering unparalleled service and superior accommodations in our newly renovated rooms and suites, we can now additionally provide guests with the opportunity to receive world-class instruction from one of the most respected and well-known instructors in the sport.”

At its new home at the Raptor Bay Golf Club, the Rick Smith Golf Academy continues to offer golfers the same level of quality instruction provided to players on the PGA Tour. The instructional staff focuses on the importance of solid swing fundamentals, equipment tailored to the student, fitness and stretching. With the goal of making the game of golf more fun for every student, regardless of skill level, the academy offers multiple-day instructional schools, individual lessons, clinics and junior camps.

For more information on lessons and programs or to schedule lessons with the Rick Smith Golf Academy at Raptor Bay, please call the Raptor Bay Golf Club at 239-390-4600 or visit http://www.coconutpoint.hyatt.com.

About Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa
Named among Travel + Leisure’s 100 World’s Best Hotels, the AAA Four Diamond Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa features world-class golf, a 19,000-square-foot spa, the AAA Four Diamond-rated Tanglewood restaurant and an extravagant series of water features, including multiple pools ranging from 2,700 to 5,000 square feet and a 140-foot corkscrew slide. The 454-room resort, which recently received Florida Green Lodging’s Three Palm eco-friendly certification, is the ideal base camp between Naples and Ft. Myers. Located on 26 acres overlooking the breathtaking Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve, the resort offers convenient access to both destinations as well as a private island beach for a more secluded retreat. A 15-minute water taxi ride takes guests to the resort’s private beach on Big Hickory Island. White, soft sand and the brilliantly colored Gulf of Mexico create a restful spot with plenty of open chairs and umbrellas for those looking to relax.

For those guests seeking a more active vacation, the island is a great spot to hunt for sharks’ teeth, collect more than 400 types of seashells, build old-fashioned sand castles or kayak along the beautiful shoreline. Back at the resort, guests can relax and rejuvenate with pampering treatments at the Stillwater Spa and enjoy a delectable meal at the Tarpon Bay restaurant, featuring fresh, innovative seafood for a truly memorable meal. For information or reservations visit http://www.hyattregencycoconutpoint.com or call 239-444-1234.